Cost of Living in Vietnam

Living expenses in Vietnam will differ depending on an individual’s lifestyle. Many expats are able to enjoy a good life in Vietnam without spending a fortune. The largest dents in an expat's monthly budget will be in the areas of housing, schooling and Western foodstuffs. Travel, phone and internet costs remain low.

Like most countries, Vietnam has its fair share of temptations for an expat's wallet. Being in Asia, there are lots of electronic gadgets that expats can spend their hard-earned salary on. However, with a little financial shrewdness, it's easy to live comfortably and save at the same time.

When shopping in Vietnam, expats will notice that different streets sell similar goods, for example, there will be a “shoe street,” followed by a “stuffed toys street” and a “TV and audiovisual street”. This system comes from a time when traders would set up their businesses close to their competition in order to cluster all similar services in one area. Today, it means that shoppers are able to go to one area for all their shopping and they can compare prices easily and bargain knowledgeably. There are also numerous malls and shopping plazas constantly being built or added to in the larger cities.

Cost of accommodation in Vietnam

The majority of expats moving to Vietnam do so on a short-term basis and therefore opt to rent property rather than buy. The cost of rent will vary depending on the standard of housing a person requires, as well as the location of a property.

On the other hand, expats will find a great many modern apartment complexes in Vietnam’s bustling cities and as a result, there are more luxury accommodation options available to them. These condominiums and apartments come equipped with a range of facilities such as gyms, laundries and swimming pools. Naturally, rental prices are higher. 

As a rule of thumb, housing closer to the city centre comes at a premium while housing in outlying suburbs is more affordable.

Cost of transport in Vietnam

There are plenty of cost-effective ways to get around Vietnam. Expats can feel free to negotiate on taxi or motorcycle taxi fares. 

Most expats don't drive in Vietnam due to the chaotic conditions on the city streets. Those that do wish to have a private vehicle should hire a driver with knowledge of the local roads.

Cost of food and eating out in Vietnam

Sticking to Western food and restaurants will burn a hole in one's wallet as many of the food items or ingredients are imported and the government levies high taxes on these goods. Eating Vietnamese food is cheap, tasty and definitely something to write home about. 

Fruit and vegetables from supermarkets are also a lot more expensive than those bought in the marketplace.

Cost of electrical goods in Vietnam

Expats will find cheap electrical goods, particularly in the markets. However, many of these are inferior copies made in China.

Shopping at department stores and malls is one way to ensure that items are genuine and come with some sort of manufacturer’s guarantee; unfortunately, this also means paying a lot more than one would expect to pay in the region, especially with Bangkok only a cheap flight away.

Cost of living in Ho Chi Minh City chart

Note that prices may vary depending on location and service provider and the table below is based on average prices for February 2020.